Leafs in hot pursuit of Brendan Shanahan for senior role

Brendan Shanahan greets Maple Leafs' forward David Clarkson before a a game in November. Shanahan is being wooed by the Leafs to join upper management, a move that would cast doubt over the future of GM Dave Nonis. (Dave Abel/Toronto Sun file)

Now that his parade route is on hold — perhaps indefinitely — the hockey priorities of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment boss Tim Leiweke are about to be put to the test.

And already the speculation of an overhaul at the top of the chain of command of the reeling hockey club are part of the focus picking at the carcass of a Leafs team that once again failed in the regular season.

With the club eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday night in Tampa, it has become apparent that Leiweke is considering shaking up the top of the hockey operations and that he has approached chief NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan for a senior position with the team.

A source familiar with Shanahan made it clear to the Sun late Wednesday that the Leafs brass has indeed been in contact. The former NHLer, who was renowned for his rugged play, hasn’t been shy about letting it be known he didn’t consider life in the NHL office a long-term career plan.